THOUSANDS of anti-racists gathered in Whitechapel on Saturday to oppose a Ukip demonstration planned to bring hostility and fear to the multicultural east London area. 

To maintain safety, the Metropolitan Police directed the far-right marchers towards Marble Arch instead.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said that it was “inspiring to join people of all faiths and none in Whitechapel today to keep the far right out of the East End.

“We had a simple message to anyone trying to divide our community: jog on and get lost.”

Stand Up To Racism said: “Embarrassing turnout for [Ukip leader] nazi Nick Tenconi in central London today, just managing 100 far-right goons.

“Meanwhile 200 anti-fascists are opposing them — and more importantly, Whitechapel is full of thousands of anti-racists. They did not pass!”

Ukip organisers had described their plans as a “crusade,” urging supporters to “reclaim Whitechapel from the Islamists.”

A group of nearly 100 far-right protesters led by Mr Tenconi, holding a banner reading “Islamist invaders not welcome in Britain,” were seen in central London.

Earlier in the week, the Met had announced restrictions on the hate march, banning the group’s supporters from entering the borough of Tower Hamlets in a bid to stave off “serious disorder.”

Commander Nick John, in charge of the weekend’s public-order policing operation in London, warned: “It is our assessment that there is a realistic prospect of serious disorder if it was to go ahead in the proposed location.

“This is in addition to the disruption that two large protests taking place on a key arterial route through east London would cause.”

He added: “Ukip are free to organise their protest in an alternative location but they will not be holding it in Tower Hamlets.”